Process of printing on felt and the like.



UNITED srarns Paranir' orator.

ROBERT JOHN CHADWICK MITCHELL, or swrnlnnnsr', mnoorin, nn'ennrm.

No Drawing.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT JoHN Cnirowicn MITCHELL; a subject of theKing of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Morton Hall, Swinderby,Lincoln, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses of Printing on Felt and the Like, ofwhich the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the printing of felt and like fabrics having aclose even surface.

Heretofore felt has been decoratively treated by printing designsthereon with engraved rollers or blocks and in anilin or other colorswhich are fixed by steamin Such process of fixing involves a subsequentwashing and finishing of the material, and the artistic resultsobtainable are consequently very limited and not such as to enable thefelt that has been thus decorated by the printing of colored patterns ordesigns thereon, to be applied to many services to which it is otherwiseWell adapted.

The object of this invention is to obviate the necessity for theaforesaid fixing of the colors by steaming and the subsequent washingand finishing operation, and to print designs and produce decorative orartistic effer-ts upon the felt that have hitherto been unattainable onsuch material.

I have found that the best decorative effects in the color printing offelt and like fabrics, are obtainable only by printing upon suchmaterial when it is in the finished condition and with ordinary oil orself-fixing lithographic colors. I' have further found that to attainthe desired result the colors must ndthc allo'i'ved to penetrate beneaththe 40 surface of, or soak into, the fabric, as such penetration causesa spreading of the pattern or design which is thereby blurred or causedto present a blotchy or similarly impaired appearance.

My invention comprises the process of printing felt by lithographicprinting means wherein the felt is first provided with a white or otherground color so as to form an effective base for the pattern at theparts on which the colors are printed,

In carrying the invention into effect in one convenient manner, I employfor the printing operation any ordinary or suitable lithographicprinting machine having, for

example. an impression cylinder arranged me :i fiat bed on which areplaced stones Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15, 1908. Serial No. eta-F51.

PROCESS OF PRINTING ON FELT AN]? THE LIKE.

Patented that; 5,

or their equivalent to be used for the The required pattern or design tobe printed on the felt is formed upon or transferred from a drawing tothe said stones in any 6 ordinary manner.

When printing on unn'oven or or felt, the latter is fed into the -nesuch a Way tl at the direction in which it naturally res'i s a strething action coincides with the direction 1 which the printing machinetends to stretch it, so that more accurate register of the colors isobtained than would otherwise be possible.

As a further means for insuring the aforesaid accurate register of thecolors, the felt may be placed upon and passed through the printingmachine with a sheet or backing of -non-stretching material having asurrace such as will preventthe felt from indcpcnd ent movement thereonduring the printing operation. In somerases a non-stretching surfacemaybe provided either at the back or front of the material; such surfacemay be formed by treating the felt with one or 83 more suitable andknown substanc such as a solution of nitrocellulose; which will producea non-stretching film or skin.

Prior to printing the felt may be dyed to any suitable color, and whenprinted can 35 have its whole surface covered with a wash able varnish;r the design alone may he varnished in any ordinary manner.

I first print the felt or i ilte material, (on the parts where thedecorative colors are to be subseanently rinted}, with a sol groundcolor, white, Till. ed with suitable oriers, varnish, oil or other materials so that the mpression on the material i dries quickly. Said groundcolor, which forms a bed or surface for the sn quest colors, may ifdesired be produced by methan one impression, each impression b appliedby a lithographic or equivale: printing slab or surface as aforesaid. uthe ground color is sufficiently dry, va rious colors forming the designare p .ted thereon, each color being of course allowed to dry beforeanother is impressed. this a r method the colors printed are givengreater 1? prominence and brightness, thus increasing the artisticefiect. I

The grrnind color aforesaid. composed of pigment color, driers, varnish,and oil plied by lithographic printing surf quickly dries upon andadheres in film to the felt Without penetration its surface and owing toiis composition and method of applies/83mm presents a serious capable.of reoelvmg hthographlo prlntmg eoioa's also applied by lithographicsurfaces.

Sofigrouzid some imperis to the design primed thereon ahani paintedeppeemncc and can be employed with odvenmge for do s carpets, rugs, shoeor slipper uppers, book binding purposes, belts, cushion covers, table(seniors and covers, trimmings, door panels .en for other purposes. liore over, my pzocess is more economical than that at preseni employedand enables me to produce felts with coio'reci designs thereon of equaiiiy and of more 12.11 or comthan has heretofore been eseem in firstproviding themcteriei witha ground coior composed of a plgn'lent color,drlers VHKIHSh and 011. to form a base for the patism of the parts onwhich the colors are subsequently printed and then printing the patternon said ground colors.

A process of printing feltor iike fabrics by means of lithographicprinting consisting in first providing the material with a nonstretciungbacklog and then with a ground color composed: M a plgment color, iners,

wmish and oil to form a base for the petterm at the parts on WhlCh thecolors are subsequently pointed and then printing the pat'zern on saidground colors.

In testimon Y Whereofl I affix my signature in presence oi twowitnesses. I

EQBEBT GEADWICK BH'PGH IQLL.

Witnesses CHARLES ALEXANDER MCHERROW, AKTHUR HUGHEE.

